Susan Magsamen is a leading expert in creative play and hands-on experiential learning.
About Susan Magsamen
Susan is an award-winning writer for children and families. Her FamilyStories books and other work have been called “a beautiful celebration of family life,” empowering parents and children to connect—with each other, with other families, and with the world around them. Founder of an innovative and well-regarded activity company, Susan’s work fosters and enhances the ways people come together to play, create, learn and grow.
The Deep Roots of Susan’s FamilyStories
Myth, knowledge, and the power of sharing with others: Susan explores ideas that let a family thrive. Inspired by the experiences of families everywhere, she creates active and interactive learning opportunities for parents, children, grandparents, and wonderfully, infinitely extended family. FamilyStories is a multimedia resource featuring a five-title book series, workshops, website, and radio programs. Partners include Barnes & Noble, United Way, XM Radio, and The National Geographic Society.
Beginning With Curiosity Kits
Back in 1983, Susan founded Curiosity Kits to engage children in a quest to find, share, and celebrate their voices through exploration and discovery in the arts, sciences, and world cultures.
A Far-Reaching Company
Susan’s Curiosity Kits collaborations included programs with Scholastic Inc., National Geographic Society, Sylvan Learning Systems Public Broadcasting Company, Discovery Channel, Metropolitan Museum of Art, Smithsonian Institutions, Chicago Art Institute, and The Walt Disney Company. Curiosity Kits earned hundreds of national awards and recognition from child development experts and parenting associations including Oppenheim Awards, Parents’ Choice, Family Fun, National Association of Parenting Publications Awards, Hearthsong, and the prestigious Canadian Toy Council.
From Individual to Community
Susan sold Curiosity Kits in 2004. Her interest in active and engaged learning continued to evolve, embracing the roles of caregivers, family, and community in the life of a child. Where Curiosity Kits encouraged the activity of an individual, FamilyStories celebrates the significance of creating, playing, and sharing life together as a family. Susan founded FamilyStories to combine the latest child development and brain science research with shared wisdom, activities, and stories from families everywhere. Subjects range (and interconnect) across eight main topic areas, from school & learning to seasonal celebrations and more.
FamilyStories: 2007 and Beyond
Workshops are at the root of the FamilyStories experience. Since 1996, Susan hosted hands-on learning and activity programs in regional shelters, community centers, orphanages, and other human service arenas. A new relationship with United Way Women’s Leadership Council enables her to take FamilyStories Workshops to a national level beginning in spring 2007.
FamilyStories for Everyone
Everyone has a story to tell. And so FamilyStories meets families wherever they are: from losing a tooth to navigating the first days of parents’ separation or divorce, FamilyStories explores the big and small moments of daily life. Susan collects stories in personal interviews, on the FamilyStories website, and in community-based workshops. She keeps her finger on the pulse of current research, and gathers art, poetry, and activity ideas that celebrate the unending variety of interests and learning styles that make each family unique.
Susan Magsamen: Affiliations
Professional:
| • | Board Member of the American Visionary Art Museum, board chair of museum education; |
|
| • | Chair of Wondertime Magazine Editorial Advisory Council, a new national child development magazine for families published by The Walt Disney Company; |
|
| • | Founder of FamilyStories Workshops, a national family-based hand-on learning workshop series for low income and at-risk families through the United Way; |
|
| • | Strategic advisor to Families and Work Institute Minds In The Making; |
|
| Co-developer of the neuro-education initiative, Teaching, Learning and Brain Studies Roundtable Seminar Series; |
||
| • | Senior Advisor to Island Press, the leading environmental publisher; |
|
| • |
Business Achievement Award, SmartCEO Magazine’s Top 25, June 2007. |
Susan is also a member of the following organizations:
Recent Publications:
| • | FamilyStories: My Two Homes, 2007 FamilyStories: |
|
| • | Nighty Night, 2007 FamilyStories: |
|
| • | Tooth Fairy Time, 2007 FamilyStories: |
|
| • | Making Spirits Bright, 2007 FamilyStories: |
|
| • | Family Night!, 2007 |
Recent Awards:
| • | 2007 Honors Award from National Parenting Publications: Family Night |
|
| • | 2007 Honors Award from National Parenting Publications: My Two Homes |
|
| • | Dr. Toy: Top Ten Socially Responsible Toys for 2007: My Two Homes |
|
| • | Dr. Toy: Top 100 Products of 2007: My Two Homes |
Education:
| • | M.A.S. 1986 Johns Hopkins University |
|
| • | Graduate of Towson University with B.S. in Journalism and Communications 1981 |
|
| • | Attended Sheppard College with focus in Psychology and Expressive/Creative Arts Education 1977-79 |
Employment Overview:
| • | FamilyStories, President and CEO, September 2004 to Present |
|
| • | Curiosity Kits, President and CEO, 1983 to 2004 |
|
| • | Barton Gillet Company, Senior Vice President, Strategic Development for Cultural Arts and Not-for-Profit Institutions, 1979-1983 |
|
| • | Maryland Public Television, Director of Communications, International University Consortium, 1977-1979 |